Survey: Majority of restaurants recycle, customers approve

by Rebecca Walker — May 27, 2011—More than three out of five U.S. restaurants recycle glass, cardboard, paper and other materials, which scores big points with their customers. Nearly two-thirds of patrons want to eat at restaurants with recycling programs in place, according to a new survey from the National Restaurant Association. Eighty-five percent said they’d even lend a hand by sorting quick service recycling items into the appropriate bins, if provided.

Restaurants most frequently recycle paper and cardboard, while 13 percent said they compost their food scraps. Recycling infrastructure varies by region. The Northeast and West regions boasted the highest recycling rates, with 80 percent and 77 percent, respectively, according to the NRA survey, followed by the Midwest (63 percent) and South (46 percent).

While infrastructure is an oft-cited barrier to restaurant recycling, education is a big challenge, too, Staff turnover can also play a role; if new workers aren’t versed on proper recycling procedures, the program may be useless.

Adopting a recycling program can benefit the bottom line of industry with traditionally tight profit margins. In the San Francisco Bay Area, restaurants can get a discount on their garbage collection fees if they recycle, ranging from 20 percent to 50 percent depending on the jurisdiction.

The survey of 500 restaurant owners and 1,100 consumers was conducted in March and April. Other highlights include:

• 72 percent of restaurant operators buy products made with recycled materials, 30 percent buy compostable products.
  
• 73 percent of restaurant operators said the cost of doing business stayed the same as a result of using recycled materials, while 18 percent said costs increased.
  
• 51 percent of consumers indicated they would pay a little more at a restaurant with an active recycling program.
  
• 57 percent of consumers expect recycled products to be cheaper than conventional products.